Dear Hyeri

Lost it's charm half way through

I was so excited about this because I love the two leads specially HS, sadly it wasn't that great and struggled to not drop it.

Acting :
Ihave to be fair and say that acting-wise it was good, HS was spectacular, the only thing I couldn't stomach was the way Heyri was speaking, it's like a 3 YO child still I understand that it's the way she chose to go with the character so I didn't mind much, and while I like KH I couldn't see anything "in his eyes" the anger or calmness or whatever that he has to show was lost on me, I was only able to see one facial expression all the way, he just can't act with his eyes.
So aside from that I liked the rest of the actors even the annoying ones.

Story:
I don't know what was going on, and not that I didn't understand the story but midway it was all over the place, the way they showed she was not a serious case of DID then bam! She was cured just like that, I hardly could see her taking any meds nor was I convinced by the psychiatrist she was seeing and their conversations felt ridiculous.
Also I couldn't follow through the time, some days I'd be confused like shouldn't they be at work now or whatever? Are they allowed to take so much days off? Specially the days that HO had to stay with EH I and she sleeps for over 13 hours for like 3 days continuously.
Aside from lacking logic big deal, the story got very boring, the more you watch the more you get less excited to finish it, pity it was good at the beginning.

Overall not really bad, what I didn't like was personal preference, some can just not see the things I didn't like or can be easily ignored, yet I wouldn't recommend it to anyone unless you have patience and don't care much about logic ~

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This drama is a 10/10 for me

Soo many negative reviews but tbh I would say this is the best story soo far this year with best chemistry. In my opinion no one has a chemistry like jinuk&hyesun. Its like they never acted but lived in the characters.

Well this drama is not everyone's cup of tea. This is not a regular chaebol and Cinderella story. Soo many watched the drama without even reading the plot and genre. The plot is between two people Eunho(who has a DID because of loss of her sister) and Hyunoh, who hides a broken heart because of childhood trauma and old women. The actual story is between them and it is clearly mentioned in the genre. So I wonder how audience could expect Eunho to end up with SL(who is not even sincere in love). This makes no sense. Juyeon is soft hearted but no, he is not good to be a lover. He first fell in love with hyeri, and when hyeri disappears he says he would prefer Eunho too which is a complete non sense. I was numb here. He lost here as a lover. And within no time he fell in love with hye yoon immediately(Even though I was happy that he moved on...these immidiate actions are not qualified to be a lover).

If we talk about Hyunoh, the only blunder he committed is not sharing his pain and sorrows. Why everyone is after only Eunho's pain but not Hyunoh's?? In my aspect Hyunoh is the most suffered one. He is a best man a woman could get as a lover. He might have broke up with her but never left her side. Whenever Eunho was hurt, it hurted him as well. May be this is what true love is. There is no fault with Hyunoh, but there is a fault with audience here. He sacrificed his dreams, he did every possible thing to make her strong and independent so that she could not face that humiliation in the office. He was right, a person who loves has a right to set the things even if it meant to hurt for once. He might have said that she was embarrasing him but there is a strong reason for that too. That was the only way to make her strong. He atleast not insulted her infront of the colleagues like moon ji on did. He let her go because he thought she would suffer like him. If you notice he never lived his life for himself but for others. How can people not see how much he suffered?? There is no love without pain and suffer. In the end the writer wanted to prove that "going back to your loved ones can heal each other" and thats the plot. DID is a disorder and its not a severe illness. It comes and goes. So i guess thats a perfect ending. In the end I would say, Hyunoh and Eunho are indeed made for each other. To watch this drama one should have a deep understanding skills instead of misunderstanding skills. This is the reason people ruined the beautiful drama. Even if 1% is supporting Hyunoh and 99% are with ju yeon and want her end up alone, I would honestly blame those 99% of people that their perspective is extremely wrong.

And talking about the acting Jinuk and Hyesun literally slayed their roles. Watching Jinuk in romance genre is really a feast to my eyes since he always portrayed action or bada$$ characters. I am always in for this actor.
I really loved Dear hyeri. I would recommend this to watch atleast for the chemistry between main leads.

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Dear Hyeri: A Disaster Redeemed Only by Shin Hye-sun’s Brilliance

Every so often, a K-drama arrives like a glittering promise, armed with all the ingredients to create something unforgettable. Dear Hyeri had them all—an intriguing premise rooted in mental health struggles, a leading actress in Shin Hye-sun known for her nuanced, soul-deep performances, and a director with enough pedigree to spin gold from good intentions.

But what we got instead was fool’s gold. Pretty from a distance, but the moment you draw closer, the flaws crack wide open like fault lines. What could have been a masterpiece ends up as something you can only admire from afar, like a painting smeared over by clumsy hands.

And yet, even in the chaos of that messy canvas, Shin Hye-sun shines like a beacon. As Joo Eun-ho, a news announcer fractured by trauma and societal indifference, she threads her performance with an aching tenderness and fire so tangible it feels like it could light a dark room. When she slips into her alter ego, Hye-ri, she radiates with a childlike vibrancy and warmth. Watching her perform is like seeing a virtuoso play a symphony while the orchestra behind her fumbles with their instruments. It’s breathtaking and infuriating all at once.

If only the writing had been worthy of her brilliance.

Instead, the script falters and flails, stumbling over its own ambition. What begins as a promising exploration of mental illness, emotional scars, and fractured relationships quickly devolves into a toxic romance that stifles any potential for genuine healing or growth. It’s as if the writers were handed a Stradivarius and chose to beat it against a rock.

Jung Hyun-oh, played by Lee Jin-wook, is meant to be a complicated love interest with his own set of emotional wounds. In reality, he’s about as engaging as a brick wall. His character is controlling, possessive, and somehow painted as romantic. For a man who supposedly broke Eun-ho’s heart with a brutal breakup that shattered her psyche, his return to her life feels less like a redemption arc and more like an unwanted guest barging through the front door. Lee Jin-wook’s performance doesn’t help matters—his delivery is as flat as week-old soda, all fizz gone with nothing but a bitter aftertaste.

What makes this dynamic even more unbearable is the deeply toxic nature of their relationship. Hyun-oh’s character is controlling, prone to jealousy, and perpetually invasive. Let us not forget that his decision to end their eight-year relationship was the catalyst for Eun-ho’s mental breakdown. And yet, he has the audacity to reinsert himself into her life under the guise of concern, all while displaying the emotional maturity of a teenager. The script’s insistence on portraying this relationship as redemptive or romantic is not just misguided; it’s outright insulting to the audience’s intelligence.

As if the main romance weren’t enough of a travesty, the plot’s resolutions are equally asinine. After endless episodes of Eun-ho struggling to reclaim her agency and vowing not to repeat past mistakes, she inexplicably returns to Hyun-oh, who—miraculously and without justification—is suddenly ready for marriage. It’s the kind of narrative sleight-of-hand that leaves viewers questioning whether the writers were as emotionally invested in these characters as they expected us to be.

The supporting cast offers some reprieve, albeit not enough to salvage the series. Kang Hoon’s portrayal of Kang Ju-yeon, the secondary romantic lead, is magnetic. His understated performance imbues the character with depth and vulnerability, and his interactions with Hye-ri provide some of the show’s most heartfelt moments. Similarly, Jo Hye-joo’s turn as Baek Hye-yeon is a breath of fresh air. Her character’s bright, comedic energy and genuine warmth often overshadow the main storyline, to the point where her romance with Ju-yeon becomes infinitely more engaging than the supposed central plot. If only the drama had leaned into this secondary storyline more—perhaps it could have salvaged some dignity.

Instead, we are subjected to some of the most aggravating side characters ever to grace the small screen. Yoon Joo-man’s portrayal of Jeon Jae-yong, a returning veteran reporter, is particularly egregious. Meant to provide comic relief, his antics are neither amusing nor endearing. Rather, they are a masterclass in how to derail a scene and test the viewer’s patience. It’s as though the writers were determined to pad the runtime with filler material, no matter how irritating or inconsequential.

Ultimately, the blame lies at the feet of screenwriter Han Ga-ram, who fumbled an intricate premise with the grace of a clumsy juggler. What could have been a deep dive into trauma and recovery instead feels like a soap opera with none of the satisfying melodrama. The tonal inconsistency leaves viewers adrift, struggling to latch onto a story that seems unsure of its own identity.

And yet, there is Shin Hye-sun. Steady, luminous, and unflinchingly present. Watching her navigate this mess of a script is like witnessing an artist paint masterpieces on scraps of torn paper. Her brilliance is the only thing that keeps Dear Hyeri from collapsing entirely under the weight of its own failings.

Dear Hyeri is a masterclass in how to waste potential. It is a drama that promised depth but delivered shallowness, that teased complexity but settled for clichés. For Shin Hye-sun fans, it is a painful reminder of what happens when a luminous star is forced to shine in a black hole of mediocrity. For everyone else, it is a cautionary tale: not all that glitters is gold.

Verdict: Dear Hyeri had the potential to be a riveting character study, but instead, it buckles under the strain of its clumsy writing and misplaced priorities. Shin Hye-sun’s performance is a diamond buried in the wreckage—radiant, invaluable, but ultimately wasted on a drama that didn’t deserve her.. For Shin Hye-sun’s sake, let us hope her next project is worthy of her immense talent.

Score: 5/10

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normalizando el abuso entre parejas

Muy buenos actores, el concepto pudo haber sido muy bueno como la sanación, el perdón, trabajo terapéutico y colocar al segundo protagonista como la verdadera persona que se quede con la protagonista femenina, quien ha sido real en todo momento, le ha brindado apoyo y respeto.

Sin embargo, luego de ir bien fue cayendo la serie, normalizar el abuso entre pareja, no es lo correcto para mostrar al mundo. El ML insulta a FL y esta continua con su amor firme por el; 8 años de relación asfixiante, ignorando la independencia de cada uno se mantenían enganchado reclamando amor; sin comunicación sincera entre ambos llevando al ML a maltratar de cualquier manera posible pero cuando ella enfermaba o estaba en peligro el aparecía a cuidarla como puro codependiente.

Parecía más una serie de la relación adicto y codependiente. Esa danza entre ambos difícil de identificar al menos que hagan terapia.

No la recomiendo al menos que alguien necesite entender visualmente lo que es la codependencia.

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Is it possible to make such a drama

I never actually write reviews but I had to this time because I've wasted more than 12 hours of my precious time to watch this shit.
And I don't want others to waste their time
I was following this drama for quite a long time but didn't get time to watch it. I didn't get spoilers or anything.
I've solely followed because of SHS. She's one of my favourite actresses in Korean dramas. I love her acting and confidence.
But this drama is literally nothing but all the garbage I've ever seen. I didn't expect this from the Cast.
To start with good things I've to say about music. Except that I can't appreciate anything. Some times music gave that depth to few scenes.
Acting: Such a poor acting those funny acting we expect in a high level drama are present in this but you see. I'm not ready to expect that fun because it doesn't compensate poor script. Shs was very poor in this especially when she acted as hye ri. Like literally I didn't find that happy bunny pretty girl any where. Everywhere she was depressed and some awkwardness is these in her actions when she was acting like hye ri. She was not at all chubby cutie as she was expected to be. All those explained by 2nd ML's mom is inducing into our minds that she's bunny girl but no she's not. I thought he picked up in the middle but again it fell after few episodes. ML character is just narcissistic toxic crazy boyfriend or ex boyfriend. Like he never gives time or space for FL to move on. Always getting into her business just to give her that SLOT. I don't know how can announcer hold such a power to make these things. If he rejects that slot they can give it other good candidates but those stupid superiors give those positions to FL just to blame her for taking that place and behaving like crazy. I didnt know announcers change this frequently in any shows or news I watch, it's literally crazy.
1st ML is character is very easy. Just make the Most worst Red Flag you've ever seen. Like he literally breaks up and runs to her whenever he wants. Why? Because why not. No one knows any logic. He helps FL when she gets sick and asks her to get sick at times so that he can take care of her . WHAT??? Like seriously you want her to be sick????
Don't judge yet if you think he's the only person who can think or talk like that. You're making a grave mistake. We've our 2nd ML, like WOW, he wants her to be sick i.e to get her dissociate character again just to be happy. He repeatedly asks FL to get her back. Like asking her to stop getting treatment for DID just because he likes that dissociate character???? I don't get it at all.
I don't know why that 3rd ML is given those hardships. It was like he begged some role and they game him some hardships and few dialogues and few feelings towards FL. Why'd he get feelings towards FL like she's like sister in law to him. I didn't get how that worked.
Story: ________
No story
Yup no story to explain because they wanted to address DID - failed
Address past traumas - failed
How relationships get complicated ? - failed
They tried to induce that complicated love story and relationship with all their might but how can you when you develop character and then write story??? Buying horse after getting it's whip ?
How do everyone love FL out of nowhere
What??? 2nd ML likes her because she came to him as he is?..... How did he summarise that? On what basis and what circumstances? At last he realised he has feelings for that colleague after she left for her career ? Why? Because she's going to move on from you.
1st ML realised he still has feelings for her when he realises she moved on ? That doesn't solve all the trauma he had before. They just sit and talk for 1 night and they just heal each other? How???? What did they do in those 8 years of relationship??? FL said that they were serious when they were dating and not playing around. Without talking about all these trauma and childhood and fears what did they do in those 8 years without playing around?
In making 2 characters for DID for FL, they successfully made 2 characters- 1st and 2nd ML with same toxicity, narcissism and sometimes same dialogues.
Side characters have no importance and no emotions except fun. They turn whole serious situation into fun where it's not necessary.
Everything clumsy, irritating and frustrating.

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A Story That Doesn’t Know What It Is

Honestly disappointed. This story was supposed to be about a woman dealing with trauma and healing from that. Instead it became a love story - one for a toxic couple at that. The drama started to go wrong the more it started to show Hyun Oh’s life. The story isn’t supposed to be about him, it’s about her. The final couple was clearly incompatible, and it also really got on my nerves how he kept shaming her for wanting to eat. Honestly her with Joo Yeon was a much better pairing (although maybe not 100% healthy, it had more potential). And the 3rd male lead - WHY IS THIS CHARACTER THERE AT ALL???
Don’t get me wrong; this drama had a lot of really powerful scenes that are worth watching! And Shin Hye Sun is honestly a goddess when it comes to acting. What I would have liked to see, is more of a focus on the female lead healing herself and her trauma with her sister, and her multiple personalities becoming one again. Instead of giving Hyun Oh’s storyline so much screen time, they should have given more time to explore Hyeri and which side of the female lead’s personality she represented. It would have been nice to have seen the female lead start to integrate some of Hyeri into her life, and start to make relationships with the good people Hyeri had brought into her life. She could have become friends with the girls much earlier rather than 10 mins before the end. This had so much potential but the writer didn’t know what the story was really about. It was beautifully filmed though! Although I really have to say that the sound mixing was terrible for this drama. Why did the background noise keep coming in and out? It was extremely off putting.
Still, I would recommend you watch it, just with the expectation that it will be disappointing at the end and the last 2 episodes are completely not needed.
I really wish she had ended up with Joo Yeon. I mean it wasn’t the healthiest relationship, he did become a bit obsessed with someone he didn’t know for that long, but the basis of their relationship was good - they both felt they could be their authentic self with the other person, and felt seen and supported. Also what he said was really beautiful - how he will love her no matter what form she takes. Is this true? Or realistic? I don’t know, but I would have liked to have seen this relationship play out. It had a lot of potential. And honestly their goodbye was great as well - although Hyun Oh had to keep interrupting like a child (another toxic behaviour of his).
This had a lot of potential, and some parts were executed very well, but I think the story arc wasn’t well thought out, and the writer made rookie mistakes - the main one being not understanding what the true heart of the story was. I hope the writer’s future project can be one where she implements the changes she has learned from this drama.

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Disappointing tbh...

Overall 6/10
🌟🌟🌟

This drama really ended up disappointing me. It had potential in the first 2 episodes but it fell through pretty fast. Before I started watching I knew that the drama would either be a hit or miss regarding the mental health part. I was really hoping it would hit since Park Shin Hye starred in it, however it not only missed but completely derailed in that regard. I would not recommend watching this if you wanted to watch it for the mental health aspect. ML was an idiot and nothing, no excuses would make me forgive/like him. I did not like the way they showed the relationships. SL deserved better and I'm glad that is somewhat resolved at the end. Wrapping up, I'd say the last episode was really enjoyable if you disregard the whole story before that...💀

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A lovely story

Joo Eun Ho finds herself falling apart at the sudden breakup with her boyfriend Hyun Oh. She starts taking shelter in her alter ego Hye ri who is vocal about her feelings and quite positive which is the opposite of her characteristics. The situation takes a salty turn as Hye Ri falls for the very neat Joo Yeon.
It's been a while since Korean dramas work on a mental disorder at such a crucial level. Unlike the journey of Kill Me Heal Me, the journey of Hye Ri is more complicated than it is supposed to be. With each passing episode, the conflict between Eun Ho and Hye Ri makes life and emotions difficult for Hyun Oh and Joo Yeon. Unaware of the existence of the alter ego, Joo Yeon falls hard for Hye Ri. This arc within the story is the biggest twist which never leaves the car park at its proper place.
As the story progresses and the scenes start resolving a new unplanned situation appears. This keeps the aura alive.
What say....are you looking for a parking spot? Hye Ri is there to help you.

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Pleasantly surprised

Given some of the other reviews I was pleasantly surprised at what I saw. This is not a drama without flaws, and I can appreciate an ick factor at having the ML be an actor with a past including allegations of sexual assault. I was relieved that there isn't THAT much skinship and kissing going on, so I could push it slightly to the side while watching.

I think the cast as a whole is good, even the minor roles have suitable actors making each character pretty distinct.

The story arc of the 2nd ML is good, something I didn't really expect given some of the previous reviews.

These are pretty quick 12 episodes (I just came off binging a 50 ep drama before thistle one so my view might be slightly skewed) and worth the watch.

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When Shin Hye Sun's journey to healing feels like a relapse

Well, that was bad. A mediocre k-drama could even do better because atleast the characters have common sense albeit predictable actions.

I have a lot of bad things to say about this show so let's start with the good ones first.

The pilot episodes have that whimsical energy and dream-like, poetic style cinematography. The director is very skilled and he has helmed Twenty Five-Twenty One and Search WWW. He has proven time and time again that he can depict age gap romance properly and without the ick. Shin Hye Sun's acting prowess also drew me into watching this. She usually picks memorable characters, one that will stick with you long after watching it.

So one might ask—what went wrong? Everything went wrong from the moment common sense flew out of the window for our main character Eun Ho (played by Shin Hye Sun), an unknown announcer with 14 years of experience.

Hyun O (played by Lee Jin Uk) is Eun Ho's ex-boyfriend (don't get me started with how their names practically sound the same). Unfortunately, they work in the same broadcasting company PPS and unlike Eun Ho, Hyun O is more renowned and has moved up the career ladder a bit. They dated for 8 years but broke up 4 years ago.

Looking back, it still annoys me how there is not a single reason why Hyun O and Eun Ho should get back together. From the get-go, Hyun O is ambiguous and evasive towards Eun Ho. He still shows that he cares for her yet he denies that he still loves her. Perhaps, this is just a result of poor writing. If writernim wants to show that two people are inevitably meant to be despite their differences and misunderstandings, maybe she should have sustained their character arc. To be honest, I don't see any growth from the characters. They didn't heal or grow by the end of the story, they just relapsed (Ju Yeon is an exception).

Let me introduce the dashing and brooding Ju Yeon (played by the ever-charming Kang Ju Yeon) who works as an announcer in a different broadcasting company Media N Seoul. The only catch? He's emotionally unavaible haha I agree with the comments of some viewers that he's not yet ready to commit into a relationship given that he tends to be emotionally dependent on his significant other. He confuses love with deep care for someone. He is also the very definition of brooding male lead because he keeps to himself and constantly thinks of negative and distressing thoughts.

Of course, there is one character who is able to see through his facade and that is Hye Yeon, his co-worker. She seems unfazed even when he answers her questions half-heartedly or completely avoids her when she shows up unannounced. Her bubbly personality does not rub off on him. Hye Yeon has a big crush on Ju Yeon, hence she took her time to memorize him and so the tiniest change of emotion and mood can surprise her. Sadly, he never looked her way and he considers him as the annoying colleague that never leaves him peace.

Going back to Shin Hye Sun, she played such a commendable performance of playing two roles: Eun Ho and Hyeri. Possibly due to the stress of her breakup and the uncertainty of her career, she developed dissociative identity disorder (DID). In the morning at exactly 4 AM, she would go to work as announcer Eun Ho in PPS. Then in the afternoon at 4 PM, she works as parking attendant Hyeri in Media N Seoul. During her stay as the parking attendant, her other identity Hyeri developed a crush on Ju Yeon, constantly saving a parking spot on him but goes into hiding whenever he is near. Hyeri has this childlike wonder yet is wise with words perhaps a thing she got from Eun Ho's eloquence. On the other hand, Eun Ho is very much grounded in reality and self-critical especially even when her dreams are crumbling right before her eyes. Hyeri is the very reason I enjoyed the first few episodes. The moment she diseappeared and never resurfaced again still baffles me. Was Hyeri just a clickbait? Did they just add Hyeri to make the plot sound more interesting? Putting a character in the background out of the blue will never not annoy me. Her symptoms suddenly stopped the moment Hyun O started paying attention to her again. This just made it harder for me to connect with the character and understand the mental health issue.

Let's also talk about how they poorly handled the mental health condition. The conclusion felt like a quick fix and merely a stereotype of Eun Ho's sickness. I am by no means an expert but the portrayal felt less authentic and more stigmatizing. Putting a therapist in the show does not instantly make the story accurate and nuanced. The pyschiatrist appears to be merely an accessory rather than someone who is willing to help and support Eun Ho throughout her treatment and recovery. In addition, the mental health issue was used a plot device for Eun Ho and Hyun O's reconciliation. The story was so focused on their romance that the mental disorder functions more as a tool for their reconnection. Her DID comes across as decorative or secondary element rather than a central conflict driving the plot. This should have focused more on help-seeking behavior and recovery rather than showing how her sickness made her romantic relationship even complicated.

Can I also just say that the art direction does not suit Jin Uk's face card? I mean I have a bone to pick with his acting as it feels stiff and pained. His face is not as expressive as Shin Hye Sun's. His acting felt monotonous and robotic and he looks like he just recites his dialogues. It cringes me everytime the camera pans to him because wtf is that acting. His face does not give away any emotions except for being red flag and manipulative lol. I know he has personal issues that's why he thinks he and Eun Ho don't belong together. But for fuck's sake, just man up and clear the air between you two. Is that too much too ask? Perhaps the title should have been Dear Hyun O, Please Fuck Off. I also didn't resonate with his torment and internal conflict. All of the characters' emotions just feel superficial and barely scratched the surface.

Is this an office version of Nevertheless? Absolutely. Both kdramas ditch the good boy to an unpredictable, lackluster bad boy. But atleast Nabi sure knows how to pick her pretty boy 😪😪 and she didn't use her mental health just for the clout. She's just irrational and under the spell of manipulative sad boy and that worked better for me than Dear Hyeri. Can't believe this is the same writer who wrote When the Weather is Fine which is such a healing and warm drama. Dear Hyeri on the other hand is the total opposite, very traumatizing and glamorizes toxic relationships.

Overall, Dear Hyeri is just a second chance romance kdrama that exploits mental health for their own gain. The pilot episodes are intriguing but by the time you reach the last four episodes it's all convoluted and messy. The characters' backstories lack connection with their character arc, resulting to a baffling thought process and questionable decisions. This glorifies toxic, obsessive relationships and instills that love brings pain and sadness which is not the main point of love. The premise tries to depict that people tend to isolate themselves because of their traumatic pasts. In the end, the story failed to deliver this message and came across as an enabler of toxic behavior because of the lack of characters' growth. They all relapsed and went back to their old ways. This was supposed to be a journey of healing, not falling back to the very person who caused you pain and heartbreak. Dear Hyeri was unforgettable but for all the bad reasons.

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